Pocket sluice



H. FARNELL APOCKET SLUICE June 23, 1931.

Filed om. 5, 1929 Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES HERBERT FAB/NELL, OF LTTLETON, COLORADO POCKET SLUICE Application led October 5, 1929. Serial No. 397,615. Y

The present invention relates to sluices and more particularly to sluices adapted for use in gold placer mining.

An object of this invention is to provide 5 a sluice or conduit of this character which will remove all of the gold in sand, using water as a vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which includes o means for shifting or screening the sand or gravel so as to remove the heavier metals, particularly gold therefrom, the receivers be `ing adapted to be removed from the device without interrupting the working thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device which willremove the objectionable black sand which is usually found in gold bearing sands and which cannot be separated from the gold through the use of so any of the devices now available.

The above and various otherobjects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is afragmentary top plan view of a sluice constructed according to the pres s ent invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially through the middle of the device, and v Figure 3 is a transverse section taken :L: through the device on the line 8 3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a sluice of the usual construction'embodying a pair of parallel side members 11 having an e open top and being provided with a bottom member 12 which is adapted to be mounted between the side members 11 so as to prevent water or the like from seeping out of the sluice or conduit 10. The sluice 10 is preferably mounted at an inclined angle and is provided with supporting members or legs 13 which may be secured to the sluice or conduit in any suitable manner and in cases where the sluice is to be carried by a prospector, the leg o members 13 may be removably secured to the side wall members 11 so as to facilitate transportation of the device.

lt will, of course, be understood that the sluice or conduit 10 may be constructed of any suitable material which is available such 'ori as met-al or wood and in case metal is used, the side members 11 and the bottom 12 may be formed as a unit.

A receiver 14 is removably mounted in the conduit 10 at a point spaced downwardlyico from the upper end thereof, said receiver comprising an open box construction whichl may be formed of metal, wood or the like having side members 15S-which are adapted to closely engage the inner walls of the sluice @-5 members 11 so as to prevent any gold or sand from falling between the walls 11- andthe sidesl of the box or receiver 14. i I

The box is also provided with end members 16 and a bottom 17, the box being open 270 at its upper end. The receiver` 111- may be constructed of any suitable material and may have its side, end and bottom members formed as a unit where the box or receiver is constructed of metal.

A water-fall board 18 is preferably mounted in horizontal position within the conduit 15 having its sides closely engaging the inner side walls of the sluice members 11. The water-fall board 18 is preferably mounted im at its upper end upon the inner surface of the bottom member 12 of the sluice and a supporting or riser member 19Vis adapted to hold the lower end of the water-fall board in spaced relation to the bottom of the sluice. 'S5 The riser 19 is preferably mounted spaced inwardly from the free end of the water-fall y board 18 and the receiver 14 is adaptedvto be closely mountedagainst the lower surface of the riser 19, the ends 16 of the receiver "W being of a length sufficient to fit beneath the outer free end of the water-fall board 18. The water-fall board 18 is provided at its outer or free end with an inclined surface 2O so that the water passing over the top of the water-fall board 18 willfbe directed into the receiver 14.

A screen member 21 is mounted within the conduit 10 in spaced relation to the receiver 141 and having its upper end engage the 51C) inclined edge 2O of the fall board 18 so that all of the water and material passing over the fall board 18 will pass over the screen so that the material in the water will be thoroughly vsifted and any gold in the sand or gravel permitted to fall into the receiver 14. The screen 2l may be secured to the side walls l1 of the sluice in any suitable manner and in the present preferred embodiment, the screen is provided with upstanding side wall members 22 which are securely fastened to the wall members 11 so that no sand or gravel will pass through the conduit without going over the sitter.

it will, ot course, be understood that the screen 2l may be of any desired mesh and that a number of receivers and fall boards may be mounted within the sluice box l() in which case screens of diiterent meshes may be used so as to selectively screen er sift the material in the water.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes and modificati-ons may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof7 such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim l. A sluice comprising an inclined conduit, a water tall member mounted insaid conduit in substantially horizontal position7 the lower end ot said water fall member being downwardly inclined and positioned in spaced relation to the bottom of said conduit, an open top removable receiver in said conduit and adapted to catch the water from said water fall member, and a screen secured to said conduit whereby to screen the Water entering the receiver.

2. A. sluice comprising an inclined conduit, a water 'fall member mounted in said conduit-7 means or positioning` one end of said water tall member in spaced relation to the bott-om ot' the conduit, an open top removable receiver removably positioned in said conduit, the upper end portion of said receiver being positioned beneath the free end of said water fall member, and a screen secured to the opposite sides of said conduit and above said receiver whereby to screen the water entering` the receiver.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HERBERT FARNELL. 

